Checkout system

Abstract

A system for operator-unassisted checkout of randomly disposed articles in a container in a checkout area of a supermarket or the like, performed without contacting the articles in the container, includes, associated with each article, respective transmitters for transmitting product-identifying data upon actuation and then deactuating itself. Associated with the checkout area are actuators for actuating all of the transmitters in the container and a receiver for receiving the transmitted product-identifying data from each article in the container in turn and identifying the total cost of the articles in the container.

I claim: 
     
       1. A system for unattended checkout of randomly disposed articles in a container in a checkout area without moving the articles in the container relative thereto, comprising: (A) associated with each article, respective transmitter means for transmitting product-identifying data upon actuation and then deactuating itself;   (B) associated with the checkout area, actuating means for actuating all of said transmitter means in the container; and   (C) associated with the checkout area, means for receiving the transmitted product-identifying data from each article in the container in turn and identifying information regarding the articles in the container.   
     
     
       2. The system of claim 1 wherein, when said respective transmitter means upon actuation is unable to successfully transmit product-identifying data to said receiver means, said respective transmitter means transmits a distress signal. 
     
     
       3. The system of claim 2 additionally including means associated with the checkout area for detecting each article transmitting a distress signal so that each such article is identified for operator-assisted checkout. 
     
     
       4. The system of claim 1 wherein said respective transmitter means includes means for broadcasting upon actuation a start signal of one rank and then associated single digit signals of a different rank as the product-identifying data. 
     
     
       5. The system of claim 4 wherein said receiving means includes means for receiving one start signal and then the product-identifying data associated therewith prior to receiving another start signal. 
     
     
       6. The system of claim 4 wherein said broadcast means broadcasts unique transmitter-identifying data as part of the start signal, and said receiving means includes means for transmitting to said transmitter means identified by said unique transmitter-identifying data an acknowledgement of its receipt of the start signal. 
     
     
       7. The system of claim 6 wherein said broadcasting means broadcasts the associated product-identifying data only after receipt by said transmitter means of the acknowledgement from said receiving means. 
     
     
       8. The system of claim 7 wherein said receiving means, upon receipt of the product-identifying data broadcast by said broadcasting means, causes said transmitter means to deactuate itself if the product-identifying data is recognized and to transmit a distress signal otherwise. 
     
     
       9. The system of claim 1 wherein said transmitter means permanently deactutes itself. 
     
     
       10. A system for operator-unassisted checkout of randomly disposed articles in a container in a checkout area without contacting the articles in the container, comprising: (A) associated with each article, respective transmitter means for transmitting product-identifying data upon actuation and then permanently deactuating itself, and, when unable upon actuation to successfully transmit product-identifying data, for transmitting a distress signal; said respective transmitter means including means for broadcasting upon actuation a start signal of one rank including unique transmitter-identifying data and then, upon acknowledgement of the receipt thereof, associated single digit signals of a different rank as the product-identifying data;   (B) associated with the checkout area, actuating means for actuating all of said transmitter means in the container;   (C) associated with the checkout area, means for receiving the transmitted product-identifying data from each article in the container in turn and identifying information regarding the articles in the container; said receiving means including means for receiving one start signal, then transmitting to said transmitter means identified by said unique transmitter-identifying data in the start signal an acknowledgement of its receipt of the start signal, next receiving the product-identifying data associated therewith, and then either causing said transmitter means to permanently deactuate itself if the product-identifying data is recognized and to transmit a distress signal otherwise, prior to receiving another start signal from another transmitter means; and   (D) associated with the checkout area, means for detecting each article transmitting a distress signal so that each such article can be identified for operator-assisted checkout.